Team Focus: Youthful Belgium Can Use World Cup to Build for Future
For Belgium, this World Cup has been billed as an opportunity for their young side, brimming with talent, to show onlookers the planet over the extent of their talents. It is no secret just how good the likes of Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku are, but do they genuinely, as some have suggested, have what it takes to be world-beaters in Brazil?
Kompany has captained Manchester City to two Premier League titles in the last three years; Hazard has time and again been mooted as having the potential to join the world's elite players; Romelu Lukaku seems perfectly fit to fill the centre-forward void at Chelsea, even if every manager there seems to disagree. Even without the injured Christian Benteke, Belgium pose a significant attacking threat that would give any opponent something to worry about.
Before the start of the tournament, they boasted some of the shortest odds to win the World Cup, and although that was in part thanks to the media hubbub surrounding their summer adventure, there should be no doubt that they do indeed possess unquestionable quality. In a group from which they should progress comfortably, they have time to build on opening performances ahead of the knockout stages, in a way that most successful World Cup campaigns pan out. That, unfortunately, might be the extent of what this competition in Brazil can offer Belgium, though - the chance to build for the future.
The third youngest squad at the competition, with an average age of 25.5 years, have been tipped as the dark horses to go further than their status suggests they should. Absent from major tournaments since 2002, on the face of it Belgium are only just in from the international wilderness and given their lack of experience on such grand stages, are quickly written off by many. But this youthful squad showed in qualifying as winners of a tough group including Croatia and Serbia that they are ready for the big time.
Thibaut Courtois, the 22-year-old Chelsea loanee who kept goal in Atlético Madrid's unprecedented title-winning campaign in La Liga, has yet to taste defeat in a Belgium shirt, having racked up 17 caps already. He conceded only 4 goals in 10 qualifying matches, and only 1 of those came in 5 games on the road, all of which the Red Devils won. They clearly travel well, which of course will be of use when traipsing around South America this summer, and they are widely expected to top a group including perennial underachievers Russia, a South Korea side that came second in their World Cup qualifying group to Iran and underdogs Algeria.
The steadfast defence that the Belgians' impressive qualifying campaign was built upon is an intriguing one. Daniel van Buyten who, at 36 years of age, is one of the competition's elder statesmen, will partner Vincent Kompany in the centre, flanked on either side by natural centre-backs Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, while Thomas Vermaelen is another option. Vertonghen was often used at left-back for Tottenham, but has stated his desire to play in the middle at White Hart Lane. He often looks uncomfortable marauding forward, with his gangly style more suited towards chasing balls facing his own goal than dribbling forwards. Alderweireld did not feature at full-back at all this season for either Ajax or Atlético, and he too is better off in the centre.
But that is not to say it is a fundamentally flawed plan. Far from it, in fact. Germany showed in their demolition of Portugal last night that playing 4 centre-backs can work, with crowded central areas more often forcing opponents into pot shots from distance or into running down blind alleys out wide.
It is going forwards, though, that Belgium possess their most exciting players. Eden Hazard, by some distance the most successful dribbler in the Premier League last season (132 dribbles), will charge down the left wing in the way we have seen him do so much for Chelsea, able to go onto either foot and looking to provide ammunition for Lukaku up front. The pair hit 14 and 15 league goals, respectively, last season, and should combine to score a few between them in Brazil.
Moreover, Lukaku scores in big games. He scored against each of the top 4 teams he was eligible to face, netting 5 goals in total against Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. One criticism of Hazard, however, may be that he goes missing in the bigger games. 18 of his 21 Premier League goals and assists last season came against teams outside the top 7 and 2 of his 3 strikes against the league's top seven came from the penalty spot. Question marks understandably remain as to the impact he could realistically have this summer against the best sides in the world.
Kevin De Bruyne was considered inadequate to play for Chelsea last season, but once again showed in the Bundesliga what a talent he is. With an average WhoScored rating of 7.71, he was the 12th best-performing player in the whole German top tier, ahead of the likes of Mario Götze, Julian Draxler and Arjen Robben. He created more chances per game (3.2) than any other player in the Bundesliga whilst also completing an impressive 4.0 dribbles per game. Lively and creative, De Bruyne will provide yet more ammunition for the Belgians.
Dries Mertens is likely to complete the attacking trio behind the striker, and at 27 years of age he provides relative experience to Belgium's front line. A return of 11 goals and 5 assists for Napoli last term made him one of the biggest contributors to their third place finish in Serie A, but he too lacks in big-game performances, though he did impress in Napoli's successful Coppa Italia run. He did net against both Roma and Juventus last season, but both came when he was introduced from the bench, suggesting he has his greatest impact when others are tiring and he is fresh. In the heat of Brazil, he might be best utilised as a substitute.
It might well be that Belgium transfer their impressive form in qualifying to the World Cup stage but inexperience could cost them. It is cliched to assume that teams who have 'been there before' stand a better chance of success this summer, but it is not farfetched to say that Belgium are perhaps too youthful to triumph in Brazil. The future is certainly bright for Marc Wilmots' men, but this tournament might just be more of a learning curve for them ahead of a Euro 2016 tournament they stand a better chance of winning, and beyond.
How far do you think Belgium could go this summer? Let us know in the comments below
